I
looked down into the depths of that clear and moving water
I
saw memories shimmering in and out of the past
I
listened as gentle breezes carried the sounds of the woods
I
heard echoes of other times returning from far down the canyon
I
stroked the gnarly bark of an ancient evergreen
I
felt the calm which flowed from far beneath its surface
I
breathed deeply of the earth, moistened by the gentle rains
I
smelled the smoky fires that once had kept us safe
I
walked alone in wasted landscapes dressed in filthy rags
I
paused in the meadow as you bent to pick some flowers
I
worked with hateful strangers and counted each and every minute
I
tried to hold onto every moment in which we sat in peace
I
steeped in all the influences that droned on about me from all sides
I
drew only upon the faint but clear light that I found within
I
groped my way in the mists of the profoundest of confusion
I
lost my sight while searching but began to gain a vision
I
read of far off galaxies and creatures that lived long ago
I
began to understand the anxiety which marked my whole life thru
I
gazed upon the yellow aspen leaves as they trembled in the fall
I
felt my spirit rise into the deep blue sky which framed them
I
sensed the gentle return of Spring upon my cheeks and forehead
I
no longer had a need to stare straight into the sun simply to be sure
I
stumbled on the broadest trail in the clearest light of day
I
fell alone but then arose to find you there and awaiting me
I
could pay no attention to the slow marching of all the passing years
I
found myself in ever greater debt to many I would never know
I
watched the sun go slowly down and then quickly disappear
I
noted with interest, but not sorrow, the lines upon my hands
I
found quiet joy in the large snowflakes that fell slowly from all directions
I
dreamed a robot said on TV that factory food was his home cooking
I
grew stronger playing happily in the shade of those old trees
I
grew old standing quietly, protecting others from the sun
I
sold out to the unfaithful for little more than a song
I
finally went quite bankrupt and gladly mortgaged just my soul
I
watched the tiny wavelets produced by a pebble
I
saw a young boy skipping stones on a glacial lake long ago
I
noticed that it had grown quite late and the streets were very empty
I
hurried ever onward but slowly realized that I was not sure of the way
I
leaped wide from basic instincts to unsupported conclusions
I
fell so far I had no more need of either reason or excuses
I
listened as the crows gathered and each tried to talk at once
I
heard but a single voice that was both calm and reassuring
I
walked far up an unknown trail hoping just to find a quiet overlook
I
turned that last corner just as the first raindrops began to fall
I
spoke but little as the days grew short and their shadows lengthened
I
told these simple stories that I did not understand and no one else could hear
I
looked upon peaks buried deep in snow, glistening in the winter sun
I
wished that I had seen them before all these tourists had arrived
I
listened for the faint tinkling of the gentle rain upon the windows
I
heard that old wooden clock still ticking somewhere in the past
I
studied many subjects during long years spent at all those schools
I
learned so slowly that I could know but little in my very short lifetime
I
spoke out often and with vigor when things did not seem right
I
kept to myself when I finally realized that it had the same effect
I
traveled on for what seemed like ages as the years came and went
I
had arrived at some point but, until much later, could not really notice
I
dozed off many times to the sounds of a stream
I
awoke from dreams of my own dreaming and I was vaguely uncertain
I
created a rich inner life more enjoyable than the shared illusion of reality
I
was molded day and night by the wills and choices of those I did not see
I
sat quietly in the pre-dawn watching colors return to the countryside
I
arose to plod through another day sharing this land of make believe
I
went so far back through my life that there were no longer any memories
I
concluded there must come another time like that, and it would begin very soon
I
grew up with the security of the imagined wonders yet to come
I
grew old in the comfort of my own refashioned memories
I
imagined the world as it still might have become
I
believed in a world as I wished it might have been
I
listened attentively for sounds I thought I may have missed
I
heard snatches of blissful silence punctured by their raucous outbursts
I
set out on my way with trepidation, doubt and uncertainty many years ago
I
traveled far with strangers and, happily, had no home to return to
I
walked softly into the meadow with the sunrise at my back
I
helped trample many of the finer things into the mud with my boots
I
dismissed as unimportant their dogma that could have gained me success
I
weaved odd snatches of facts into a threadbare cloak of illusion
I
wished only to live peacefully, searching for a bit of quiet joy
I
joined the hoarsely shouting throngs and raged uselessly, on a daily basis
I
was filled with national pride and patriotism as a little boy
I
grew ever more embarrassed and ashamed of what we had become
I
saved as much as possible of my miserable take for those ‘golden years’
I
saw my comrades gamble and waste but then demand bailouts and subsidies
I
strolled through the shopping malls looking deeply into people’s faces
I
noted the anger, fear, hurry, ignorance and greed in their gazes
I
tried with all my being to understand and to make my peace
I
only saw that it could make not any difference in 500 million years
I
moved quickly and decisively through issues of consumerism
I
observed a hairy caterpillar inch its way across a picnic table
I
scanned the sky on clear nights for clues as to the mysteries
I
found good evidence that we had wisely chosen to retain our blissful ignorance